China warns it 'will not sit idle' if US harms trade ties after probe into Beijing's intellectual property practices

Beijing: China warned on Tuesday that it "will not sit idle" if the United States takes actions that impair trade ties after President Donald Trump launched a probe into Beijing's intellectual property practices.

File image of US president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping. AP

The commerce ministry issued a statement voicing "serious concern" and warning that any United States trade protectionism "will definitely harm bilateral trade relations".

The statement, posted to the ministry's official website, added that Beijing would "definitely adopt all appropriate measures to vigorously defend the lawful rights and interest of China".

Trump on Monday signed a memorandum directing United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to determine whether Chinese policies hurt American investors or companies — with retaliatory measures a possible outcome.

The president insisted that "Washington will turn a blind eye no longer" to Beijing's "theft" of United States industrial secrets — long a concern of major foreign corporations seeking a share of the huge Chinese market.

The probe comes at a time when US-China relations are already strained over North Korea, with Trump last week still suggesting that he might soften his position on trade if Beijing were to do more to help rein in its nuclear-armed neighbour.